Lamp-socket.



J. DARBY.

LAMP SOGKET.

APPLICATION II LED rmm, 1909.

Patented 001;. 11, 1910.

2 SHEETS'SHEET 1.

qvi lx Lamas:

J. DARBY.

LAMP SOCKET.

APPLIOATION FILED PEB.3, 1909. 972,343, Patented Oct. 11, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

the parts of the UNITED STATES PATENT or IcE.

JOHN DARBY, OF SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY.

LAMP-SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 11, 1910.

Application filed February 3, 1909. Serial No. 475,898.

socket in which the actuating parts are not at any time alive or current carrying; to provide relatively large clearances between the two branches at all times, and between same branch when the circult is broken; to have the lamp, or other load, together with its branches or terminals, absolutely dead when the circuit is broken; to provide a compact mechanism which is at the same time exceedingly strong and simple of construction, easy to assemble, and is adaptable to use with various forms of actuating means, such as a pull, push or key with very small alterations in the mechanism.

Other objects will be set forth herein or will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

The invention consists in the novel parts, articles, constructions, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and forming a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, the same serving in connection with the description herein to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of a lamp socket constructed. in accordance with the principles of my invention, the socket casing being omitted; Fig. 2 is a corresponding elevation looking toward the left of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sect-ion on theline CD of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an elevation corresponding to F 1g. 3 but showing the c1rcu1t controller in central section and cer-' tain of the parts in a different position; Fig.-

5 is a top plan view referred to in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of the circuit controller, shown in larger size; Fig. 7 is a section substantially on the line E-F ofv Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a bottom plan corresponding to Fig. 1; Fig. 9 shows the circuit controller and one palr of contacts with the 011'- cuit broken; Fig. 10 is a corresponding view with the circuit made; Fig. 11 shows a lamp socket embodying the invention operated by a pull; Fig. 12 is a similar View showing the mechanism operable by a push; and Fig. 13

is a similar view showing the mechanism operable by a key.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, 1 indicates a' contact arranged for .connection with one branch of the line circuit, while 2 indicates a contact arranged for connection to the other branch of the line circuit.- Suitable means for connecting them respectively to the line circuit may be provided of any suitable form and there are. shown herein for this purpose clamping or binding screws 3 and 4, respectively. There are further shown in the illustrated embodiment contacts 5 and 6 connected to the respective poles or branches of the lamp or other load. In the present embodiment these connections are shown adapted to cooperate with an incandescent lamp of the ordinary type wherein a screw socket 7 serves to hold the lamp and to make contact with one of its terminals, and a spring contact plate 8 makes contact with the other terminal.

In operative relation with the circuit terminals 1 and 2 and the load terminals 3 and 4, respectively, is a circuit controller arranged to make or to break simultaneously the connection between each of the branches of thecircuit and the corresponding branch or terminal of the lamp or other load. In the illustrated form thereof the circuit controller 9 is shown arranged to swing about a center, and further shown arranged to rotate about its center. In the present embodiment the body of the controller is ofnon-conducting material. Said controller is shown provided with conducting pieces 10 and 11, respectively, the illustrated form thereof comprising contact plates or surfaces on the cylindrical surface of the controller with a conducting connecting piece 12 between the contact plates.

Each of the conducting pieces is arranged to connect or disconnect its pair of line and load contacts simultaneously with the other conducting piece. In the present embodiment the contacting surfaces of the controller for a particular branch of the circuit are shown a semicircumference apart. The contact piece for the other branch of the circuit is conveniently shown symmetrically arranged "with the other contact piece,

although this is immaterial.

Mountings of suitable form for the parts are provided, and accordingly the controller 9 is shown having its shaft ends bearingin standards 13 carried by the plate 14. and the plate 15 each of which may be of mmlating material The contact. ieces 1' and 2 are conveniently supports upon the plate 15 by suitable means, such as screws 16 and 17. Screws l8 and 19 are also shown fastening the standards 13 to the plate-15. A screw 20 is shown connecting the contact piece 6 with the threaded shell 7 through the plate 14:. The screw 21 serves also to support the contact piece 5 and the plate 8, which may be integral therewith upon the plate 14.

Suitable actuating means for the controller piece are provided which are at all times insulated from the current bearing parts. With a rotatable controller piece, and the particular arrangement of parts herein shown, the form-of actuating means provided comprises devices for giving a quarter turn to the controller piece at each actuation. It will thus be understood that one actuation will connect a branch of the line circuit to a branch or terminalfrom. the load and will connect the other branch of the line circuit to the other branch or terminal of the load. The next quarter turn of the controller will cut out both branches. It will be seen that this constitutes a double pole and a double break controller. In the illustrated form of actuating means a toothed ratchet 22 is shown mounted centrally. of the controller 9 and fixed relatively thereto. A suit-able detent 23 is also fixed to the controller 9, and is shown alongside the ratchet 22. In the present embodiment one part of the controller piece has a squared portion on which the ratchet and detent piece are mounted, said squared portion also projecting into a corresponding recess in the other part of the controller piece, as shown 1n F1g.-7. A spring 24: is shown co-acting with the detent 23 to hold the controller plece firmly in positionand also, when it is actuated, to move it quickly-and positively to its new position. The particular form of actuating means for the ratchet wheel-23 shown herein comprises a spring-pressed pawl 25 connected to a lever 26 and acted on by the spring 29. The lever 26 is conveniently carried on the supporting structure, and is shown pivoted on the bracket 27 which is supported from the plate 15 by the screw 28. The spring 29 acts to restore the lever 26 after actuatlon.

The controller piece 9 is shown having cut away plortions 30 at the edges of the contact surfaces 10. This construction, together with the action of the spring 24, gives practically an instantaneous separation, or snapping. off, of the contacting surfaces by reason of the combined rotation of the member 9 and the snapping of the contact piece into the recess, thus obviating current waste, arcing' and other evils. i

In Fig. 11 a cord or pull 31 is shown attached to the lever 26, while with the form of means shown in Fig. 4; the lever may be actuated by pushing the exterior end thereof with the finger, or by means of a cord or pull. In Fig. 12 a push 33 is shown connected to the lever 26, while in Fig. 13 a key 34 is shown fixed to the shaft of the controller 9. In Fig. 12 is also shown a lamp in the socket with its terminal connections 36 and 37 in connection with the contact pieces 5 and 6.

From the foregoing it will be understood that a mechanism has been rovided which realizes the objects of invention and the advantages herein set forth, together with other objects and advantages.

The manner of operation of the device will be clearly understood from the foregoing description.

The invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the particular constructions shown, nor to any particular constructions by which it has been or may be carried into effect, as many changes within the scope of the claims may be made in the construction without departing from-the main principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I do claim as m invention and desire to secure by Letters atent, is:

1. In a circuit controller, a controlling member having a plurality of separableparts of insulating material arranged to swing about a center, each of said parts carrying a conducting piece, one of said parts fitting into the other whereby they rotate together, and devices for controlling the movement of said controlling member located between said parts.

2. In a circuit controller, a controlling member having a plurality of separable parts of insulating material arranged to swing about a center, each of said parts carrying a conducting piece, one of said parts fitting into the other whereby they rotate together, and devices for controlling the movement of said controlling member mounted upon said connections.

3. In a circuit controller, a shaft, a cylindrical controlling member of insulating material and consisting of two parts mounted upon said shaft, each carrying a conducting p1ece,.and one of said parts having a concentric portion engaging the other of said parts, actuating means connected to said concentric portion and extensions therefrom to the outside of the socket shell, and a pluducting pieces.

.4. A cylindrical lamp socket including in combination, two opposed heads, a line contact and a load contact in each branch of the circuit, a rotatable controller arranged in said socket between said heads, said controller including two cylindrical parts of the gap between each line contact and its load contact, a ratchet located between said cylindrical parts and adjacent thereto an rotating the same, and a lever having means for operating said ratchet mounted upon the socket structure eccentricallv to said controller.

5. A lamp socket including in combination two opposed heads of insulating material, supports arranged between and connected to each of said heads, a cylindrical controller of insulating material arranged transversely of the socket, apluralityof conducting pieces symmetrically arranged upon said controller and separated from each other, a line contact supported by one of said opposed heads and a load contact supported by the other of said heads, said line and load contacts being in the same branch of the circuit and cooperating with one of said conducting strips, another line contact supported by one of said heads, another load contact supported by the other of said heads, said last mentioned line con tact being inanother branch of the circuit and both cooperating.

6. A lamp socket including in combination two opposed heads of insulating material, connecting and supporting means between said heads, two load contacts supported from one of said heads, two line contactsi supported from the other of said heads, a movable controller having two conducting pieces, insulated from each other, and each piece arranged to close or open the gap between a load contact and-its line contact, whereby a double break is made in each branch of the circuit.

7. A lamp socket including in combination two opposed heads of insulating material, connecting and supporting means be tween said heads, two load contacts supported from one of said head's, two line contacts supported from the other of said heads, a rotatable controller arranged transversely of the axis of the socket and having two conducting pieces insulatd from each other and each piece arranged to close or open the gap between a load contact and its line contact, whereby a double break is made in each branch of the circuit.

8. A lamp socket including in combination two opposed heads of insulating material, connecting and supporting means between said heads, two load contacts supported from one ofsaid heads, two line contacts supported from the other of said heads, a movable controller having two conducting pieces insulated from each other, arranged near the opposite ends of the controller, and each piece arrangedto close or open the gap between a load contact and its line contact, whereby a double break is made in each branch of the circuit, and actuating means for said controller located between said conducting pieces. 7

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN DARBY.

Vitnesses: JOHN D. MORGAN,

CLIFFORD D. MEEKER. 

